UL accepts HEA Thorn Report recommendations

A condition of the Higher Educations Authority’s Thorn Report into Certain Matters and Allegations Relating to the University of Limerick published a fortnight ago, was that UL would provide a detailed response to the report and its recommendations by November 24th. UL has now submitted that comprehensive response to the HEA.

Fulsomely accepting the recommendations of the report, UL President Dr Des Fitzgerald has unreservedly apologised for the hurt caused to all those affected by the issues addressed in the report.

UL has engaged the former director general of the Workplace Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey to act as a mediator with the staff affected by specific issues addressed in the Thorn report. In support of this mediation process, the suspensions of the two UL staff referred to in that report as persons B and C, have been lifted.

These two actions are aimed at bringing what have been protracted issues to a resolution. UL will support Mr Mulvey in his efforts to achieve a resolution that serves UL and the concerns of all those affected by these issues.

These actions and the others detailed in the response to the HEA, combined with the comprehensive restructuring of both the senior management and the newly streamlined governing authority undertaken in tandem with the Thorn review process, demonstrates a university that has listened, and is responding to the serious issues raised about it. UL is working hard to restore trust with its many stakeholders, rebuild relationships and to ensure that the university is equipped to continue serving the Mid-West region and beyond.

Furthermore, Dr Fitzgerald apologised to staff, students, alumni and the wider public for the university’s past failings and emphasised that UL is working hard to restore trust with its many stakeholders, rebuild relationships and to ensure that the university is equipped to continue serving the Mid-West region and beyond.

UL’s response to the HEA is available on the website of the Office of the President here.